High Sierra Topix

So our daughter and her boyfriend have invited us to join them on a hiking tour of the Inca trail from Cuzco to Machu Pichu. We've now spent hours on the web googling information...but would love to hear from anyone who has actually DONE this hike....

But yeah--when you daughter invites you, you gotta go!

Haven't done it myself but have considered doing it. Like you, I've spent hours on the web researching it. Sounds like a good hike. IIRC, the guides will carry your pack over the high passes. That's how they make their living, so expect to tip them well.

I have been to Machu Picchu, but did not hike the inca trail. While there, I did speak to a number of people that did. The general opinion of everyone was that the hike was a wonderful trip, but a tourist trap. It’s not really a wilderness experience. Bring plenty of cash. You will need to buy EVERYTHING along the trail. You will need to even buy bottled water from vendors along the way if you want anything to drink.

I highly recommend that you get to the site right when it opens in the morning. If you have spent the night at Aguas Calientes, get up really early and walk to the site or take the very first bus. Once you get through the front gate, skip the site entirely and walk to the far end of the ruins. There is another gate there. Get in line with the others. Now I am sure you are thinking why skip the site?. You can explore it later. The line you are in is for Huayna Picchu, those are the peaks behind the site that you see in all the pictures. They only let 400 people a day do the climb to the top. There are two peaks you can climb, both with good trail. Make sure and climb them both, the shorter one actually has the best view of the ruins.

This is me on Huayna Picchu: Notice all the switchbacks to the left of me. That is actually the route the bus takes to the ruins.

There is also another "trail" that you can hike that will give you a great view from the side of the
ruins: If you have the time, take a tour of the sacred valley outside Cusco. I found this to be better than Machu Picchu. However you decide to do it, you will have memories to last a lifetime!

Great info!

Thanks